PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pekka Perkele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Perkele has chosen Danzig - I Don't Mind The Pain as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Balboa
vs
Perkele

185 cm
28
215 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

200 cm
32
214 lbs
25 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rocky Balboa!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pekka Perkele!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balboa throws a lazy right hand but Perkele sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Balboa throws a hook but Perkele avoids it easily.
A combination from Balboa does no damage.
Balboa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Perkele.
Balboa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Balboa misses with a body shot.
Balboa digs a good hook to Perkele's body.
Balboa takes a swing at Perkele's ribcage but misses.
Balboa throws a looping overhand right but Perkele ducks down to avoid it.
Balboa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Perkele was well out of range. Poor timing from Balboa.
Balboa throws a body punch but Perkele moves out of range.
Balboa scores with a nice strike.
Balboa misses with a wild combination.
Perkele swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Balboa is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Perkele's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

Perkele closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Perkele working away.
Perkele throwing strikes but Balboa manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Perkele is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Balboa is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perkele is trying to escape the mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balboa takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Perkele is looking to improve his position but Balboa isn't that keen on the idea.
Balboa looking to control but Perkele is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa avoids the attempt from Perkele to control.
Balboa wants to control the pace but Perkele is squirming around nicely.
Balboa throwing strikes here but Perkele is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Perkele is wriggling around trying to escape.
Balboa seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Perkele is holding on tight.
Balboa controlling from mount.
Perkele wants to control but Balboa is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa wants to control the pace but Perkele is squirming around nicely.
Perkele is trying to escape the mount.
Perkele is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perkele tries to hold on but Balboa pushes him away.
Perkele can't escape the position.
Balboa trying to control but Perkele is having none of it.
Perkele tries to hold on but Balboa pushes him away.
Balboa can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Perkele is looking to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balboa takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Balboa dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Balboa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Perkele.
Balboa throws a shot from downtown. Perkele moves away and avoids it.
Pekka Perkele seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Perkele dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Balboa throws a hook to the side of Perkele's head but Perkele sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Perkele goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
No joy there for Balboa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Perkele scores with the left hand. Balboa knows he should have avoided that one.
Balboa just misses with a punch to the body.
A jab from Balboa misses.
Perkele's corner calls for a 1-2. Perkele obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Perkele avoids a punch combination nicely.
A cross from Balboa lands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Balboa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Balboa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Perkele.
Balboa throws a body punch but Perkele moves out of range.
Perkele thumps Balboa with a low kick.
Perkele moves out of range of the strikes.
Perkele slips under a jab from Balboa.
Rocky Balboa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perkele pushes Balboa away with a front kick.
Perkele slips a jab and a cross from Balboa.
Perkele fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Perkele throws a wild body kick that Balboa sees coming a mile off.
Balboa takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Balboa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Perkele moves away.

Perkele moves into the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Perkele.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Perkele swings wildly with an uppercut but Balboa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Balboa is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Perkele misses with a punch on the inside.
Perkele creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Perkele.
Perkele lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Perkele blocks a body shot from Balboa.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Balboa.
Perkele swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa scores with a shot to the side of Perkele's head.
Perkele lands a left hand that snaps the head of Balboa backwards.
Perkele blocks an uppercut.
Perkele fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Perkele has a couple of punches blocked by Balboa.
Perkele working aggressively here.
Perkele lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Balboa backwards.
Perkele misses with some punches.
Perkele lands a right hand that snaps the head of Balboa backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Perkele.
Balboa blocks an uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Perkele creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Perkele lands a right hand that snaps the head of Balboa backwards.

Balboa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Balboa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Perkele manages to avoid it.
Balboa misses with a lunging right hand
and Perkele counters with a straight right hand.
Perkele shoots for a takedown but Balboa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Perkele, as that shot connected.
Perkele throws a front kick aimed at Balboa's knee but Balboa avoids it well.
A slow jab from Balboa misses its intended target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Perkele is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Balboa crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Perkele - the referee stops the clock and Balboa gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Perkele. Balboa manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Balboa misses with an uppercut.
Perkele swings for the body but Balboa moves out of range.
Perkele ducks under a wild hook from Balboa.
Perkele tries to clinch but Balboa is having none of it.
Perkele lands with a nice body kick.
Perkele uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Balboa.
The fight stays on the outside here - Perkele looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Balboa stuffs the takedown attempt from Perkele. Perkele gets slowly back to his feet.
Perkele punishes Balboa's body with a nice straight punch.
Perkele lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Perkele connects with an inside leg kick.
Perkele shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Balboa eats them both and turns towards Perkele to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Nice shot by Perkele.

Balboa is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perkele fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Balboa has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Oh Balboa is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Balboa avoids a kick to the body.
Balboa seems to have got his legs back now.
Perkele looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Perkele blocks a jab.
Balboa sizes up Perkele with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Balboa throws a jab when Perkele was well out of range.
Perkele uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Balboa.
Perkele lands a really nice looking cross but Balboa seems unphased.
A punch lands to the side of Balboa 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Perkele lands with a thumping leg kick.
Balboa misses with a straight right.
Balboa swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Perkele counters with a right hand to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Balboa takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Perkele throws a front kick that sends Balboa stumbling back into the cage.
Perkele thows a body kick. Balboa tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Perkele throws a good cross that connects.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Perkele showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Perkele explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Balboa takes one on the button.
Balboa shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Perkele eats them both and turns towards Balboa to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Balboa looks to score with a jab to the body but Perkele is just out of range.
Balboa steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Perkele. That one must have hurt.
Pekka Perkele seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Perkele lands a big uppercut and Balboa crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Balboa looks OK. Perkele waves Balboa back to his feet!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Perkele drives through with a takedown into Balboa's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Perkele in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Balboa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Balboa has momentary wrist control but Perkele slips an elbow through the middle.
Balboa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Perkele.
Perkele wants to control from the top but Balboa keeps moving.
Perkele in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Balboa trying to keep a closed guard but Perkele is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perkele throws a big right hand that misses.
Perkele trying to control the position from guard on top but Balboa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balboa wants to sweep but no luck.
Perkele sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Balboa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Perkele trying to control the position from guard on top but Balboa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Pekka Perkele.
Balboa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Perkele.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perkele steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Balboa.
Perkele shoots in and drives through. Balboa sprawls well.
Perkele thuds his shin into the meat of Balboa's side.
Perkele scores with a kick to the midsection.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Perkele lands a leg kick that knocks Balboa off balance momentarily.
Perkele connects with a single shot there.
Perkele fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Perkele pushes Balboa away with a front kick.
Balboa takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Balboa needs to keep his hands up - Perkele had a free shot at his head there.
Perkele thows a body kick. Balboa tries to catch it but that hurt him.
A decent looking cross lands there for Perkele.
Perkele dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Balboa. That did some damage!
Balboa is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Perkele lands a leg kick that knocks Balboa off balance momentarily.
Perkele fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Balboa.
Balboa's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Perkele connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Balboa scrambles back to his feet.

Perkele lands a big uppercut and Balboa crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Balboa looks OK. Perkele waves Balboa back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkele changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Perkele throws a nice outside leg kick.
Perkele connects with a body shot.
Balboa walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Balboa steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Perkele. That one must have hurt.
Perkele digs a good body shot into Balboa's ribs.
Perkele fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Balboa on the side of the head.
Balboa slips a jab and a cross from Perkele.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Balboa moves out of range of the body kick.
Perkele has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Perkele moves out of range of the strikes.
Perkele has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Perkele lands a nice looking body kick.
Balboa walks forward, straight into a front kick from Perkele.
Balboa looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Perkele connects with a looping right hand.
Perkele jabs at Balboa's body.
Balboa moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Balboa takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perkele connects with a jab.

Perkele gets a double leg takedown into Balboa's guard.
Perkele throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Balboa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Balboa keeping moving, preventing Perkele from controlling successfully.
Balboa trying to control the position.
Perkele trying to control but Balboa is working from the bottom.
Balboa might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Balboa is working an open guard so Perkele takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Perkele really dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Balboa misses with an uppercut.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Perkele.

Perkele shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Balboa napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Perkele in side control, throwing shots but Balboa defends.
Perkele scoring with punches from side control.
Perkele throws a strike aimed at the side of Balboa's head but Balboa avoids it well.
Perkele working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Perkele throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Balboa is not content to let Perkele control the position.
Balboa is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Perkele is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perkele scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Balboa to see if he's OK.
Balboa tries to improve position but can't.
Perkele is trying to ground and pound but Balboa uses the momentary lack of control by Perkele to regain half guard.
Perkele not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Perkele missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Perkele controlling the action here.
Perkele thows a huge punch but Balboa dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perkele thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Balboa's head.
Perkele seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Balboa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nice strikes from Perkele there.
Perkele throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Balboa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Balboa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Perkele.
Nice strikes from Perkele there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Perkele is looking to take a break and control but Balboa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Perkele is looking for a kimura but Balboa is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Perkele to get the leverage.
Balboa is not content to let Perkele control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkele throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Perkele trying to pass the guard but Balboa defending well.
Perkele slips a nice elbow through Balboa's hands, connecting with Balboa's forehead.
Balboa is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Perkele's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Perkele's back!
Balboa is looking to control Perkele but Perkele is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Perkele trying to control the hands but Balboa won't let him.
Perkele is trying to get back to his feet but Balboa has full control of the position and if anything, Perkele has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perkele covering up well and avoiding damage.
Pekka Perkele has got the better of the ground game so far.

Perkele is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Balboa gets his way!
Perkele has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Perkele tries to escape but Balboa has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Perkele dominated that fourth round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A jab from Balboa finds it's way through Perkele's defenses.
Perkele bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Balboa thows a body shot but no joy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Perkele looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Perkele keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Perkele misses with an uppercut. Balboa saw that one coming.
Perkele lands a nice leg kick that just misses Balboa's sensitive parts.
Balboa throws a looping overhand right but Perkele ducks down to avoid it.
Balboa clobbers Perkele with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Perkele scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Perkele wants to lay and pray for a moment but Balboa keeps working.
Perkele lands strikes from half guard.
Perkele throwing shots but Balboa is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa wants to improve his position but Perkele is controlling well.
Perkele thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Balboa's head.
Perkele sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Perkele wants to take a breather but Balboa is having none of it.
Perkele not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Perkele wants to control but Balboa is keeping him busy.
Perkele throwing shots but Balboa is blocking nicely.
Balboa is trying is best to control the position here.
Perkele is trying to control the action in half guard but Balboa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rocky Balboa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perkele wants to pass to mount but Balboa is defending the position.

Pekka Perkele has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Balboa throws a series of punches but Perkele avoids them all with ease.
Balboa tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A slow jab from Balboa misses its intended target.
Perkele lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Perkele fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Balboa on the side of the head.
Good exchange - Perkele coming out on top.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Perkele lands a front kick.
A combination from Balboa does no damage.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
A lazy left from Perkele finds it's target.
Balboa steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Perkele. That one must have hurt.
Balboa throws a lazy right hand but Perkele sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Perkele uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Balboa.
Perkele throws the kick towards the body but Balboa avoids it.
Perkele connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkele ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Balboa moves away.
Perkele bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Balboa will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Perkele scores with a one two! Balboa had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Balboa lands a jab to the nose.
Balboa lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Balboa.
Perkele misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Balboa looks to throw the jab but Perkele is out of range.
Perkele lands a right hook to the body.
Balboa lands a jab to the head.
A head kick misses from Perkele.
Balboa throws the left hand but Perkele avoids the punch easily.
A chopping leg kick lands by Perkele.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Perkele throws a half hearted mid kick.
Balboa misses with a jab to the body
and Perkele makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Balboa really felt that one!
Good exchange - Perkele coming out on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perkele keeps Balboa at a distance using the push kick.
Perkele fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Balboa manages to avoid it.
Balboa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Perkele.
A left lands for Balboa.
Perkele misses with a low kick as Balboa jumps back.
Balboa lands the left hand.
Balboa throws a jab when Perkele was well out of range.
Balboa misses with an uppercut.
Perkele fails with an attempt to clinch.
Balboa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Perkele misses with a two punch combination.
Perkele lands with a nice body kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Balboa misses with a double jab
and Perkele counters with a big head kick but Balboa shrugs it off.
Both fighters circling a little - Perkele finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Perkele tries to clinch
letting Balboa counter with a right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pekka Perkele comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Perkele has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 45:49
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 45:49
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 45:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pekka Perkele!
Pekka Perkele is the new light heavyweight champion!
An intense looking Pekka Perkele took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'SUOMI-FINLAND-PERKELE!'.